Most common 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Share of the 815 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 1500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 1500 years: 1997, 2005, 1998. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 recalls (3)
Tires
On certain 4x4 pickup trucks equipped with the snow plow preparation package, the tires supplied on some vehicles May have gross axle weight ratings that slightly exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will provide replacement p245/75r16 tires to meet the load carrying capacity specified on the vehicle certification label and accommodate the addition of a commercially available snow plow and hardware.
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housings May lose the functionality.
Remedy: Dealers will install a mirror detent retainer kit to correct this condition. Owner notification began on April 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Steering › Column
On certain pickup trucks, the electrical connector at the bottom of the steering column contains an under-sized terminal for the HVAC blower motor circuit. Localized heating from current flow with the blower speed set on high May cause the terminal contacts to relax and lose electrical contact.
Remedy: Dealers will install a wiring harness overlay to correct this condition. Owner notification began April 15, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500:
Rear axle failure
See attached report.
What 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 owners say
Body & structure all 278 →
A few years after the vehicle was purchased, the dash began to develop cracks and holes. This has gotten worse and worse to the point where a dash cover had to be purchased to avoid things falling down behind the instrument cluster. Currently, there is more missing than still in place in the vehicle. This is a common problem in this generation, and Dodge has not addressed it, other than to claim it is strictly cosmetic. The plastic pieces are extremely sharp, and have resulted in a number of superficial cuts when working on the defrost vents, or when adjusting the carpeted dash cover. Other pieces have fallen into the vents and then been ejected into both driver and passenger's faces when the air conditioner/heater are turned on. …
Have had a cracked dashboard for quite some time now, I have filed a complaint before and could not get a resolution from Chrysler/Dodge. My dashboard has cracked to pieces causing a safety hazard. Finally my electrical systems have started to malfunction due to the pieces of my fallen dashboard falling on electrical components, there was a small short/fire that caused my cruise control to stop working and my dash lights also. I feel it has been long enough and something needs to be done before, someone not as lucky as me, gets really hurt from this safety hazard issue that has haunted us Dodge Ram owners for a long time. We need to get our dashboard replaced asap.
Transmission & drivetrain all 99 →
Pinion nut became loose. It was caught before it totally fell off, however if it did fall off the rear axle could possible seize up and cause loss of control of the vehicle. This is a 2002 Dodge Ram with the 9.25" rear axle and they appear to still have issues to this day with that axle model. The recall Dodge had in 2009/10 does not even begin to cover the number of Dodge Ram/Dakota vehicles with this issue. The axle in this vehicle was replaced in 2009 for another issue with an axle retainer clip falling off and causing the internal assembly to grind on the boss for the axle. So as the original owner, and with only 137,140 miles on the vehicle in 19 years, it has had multiple problems fixed under warranty, including total axle replacement and now it will have rebuilt again. …
My friend was outside the 2002 Dodge Ram. It was running and in park. He leaned in the door to check the mileage on the oil change sticker on the windshield. Suddenly, in park, the truck began rolling down a very slight grade. It drug my friend who was attempting to stop the truck. It rolled about 25 yards until it hit a parked car. This all happened while in park! He was bruised and banged up, and was sore for a few days.
Electrical system all 93 →
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to turn on the heat in the vehicle, the HVAC system failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The heat stopped working so i replaced the blower motor and blower relay the heater switch and still have no heat. The wire gets hot to the touch. The heater only use to work on high then all of a sudden it just stopped all the way around
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 12 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 10 / 14 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 a good car?
Based on 815 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Ram 1500 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500?
The body & structure — 278 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (99) and electrical system (93).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, the most recent from December 10, 2003 (tires). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997, 2005 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Dodge Ram 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.